Household solid waste management in Grand-Lahou on the south-west coast of Côte d'Ivoire

Poor management of household solid waste has a negative impact on the environment and can be a source of many illnesses. In order to improving the living environment of local populations, this study aims to analyze household waste management in of Grand-Lahou. Data were collected through field observations, a survey and a characterization of the waste produced in the households. The respondents were all over 25 years of age, with a higher proportion of women (65%). The waste produced in Grand-Lahou households is packaged in makeshift garbage cans (garbage can liners (9.5%), used buckets (30.9%), old basins (4.8%), cut cans (16.7%) and old bags (38.5%). Pre-collection and collection of this waste is essentially handled by the Technical Department of Grand-Lahou municipality, which covers only 60% of the town. The waste collected is dumped at the town's municipal landfill. However, more than half of households (59%) sort a few items, such as banana and manioc peelings, used rubber shoes, buckets, used rubber containers, iron and aluminum items (used appliances and fans, cans, etc.), which are directed towards recycling channels. Concerning the composition of the waste, it is dominated by putrescible materials (42.05%) and plastics (20.25%), suggesting that the waste could be recovered and recycled.